Environmental Law

Clients rely on our attorneys to advise them on a wide range of environmental regulatory issues. Our attorneys are knowledgeable about wetlands, wastewater, storm water and point source pollution regulations. We routinely handle matters involving local planning boards, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Adirondack Park Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Lake George Park Commission. Clients rely on us to guide them through the regulatory permitting process and to defend them in administrative proceedings brought by regulatory agencies. We understand the needs of builders and developers and also represent paper industry clientele from manufacturers to timber management companies and loggers.

Adirondack Park Agency (APA)

Our Firm has represented private landowners in the Adirondacks since the enactment of the Adirondack Park Agency Act in the early 1970’s. Our attorneys have a thorough familiarity and extensive experience with the Adirondack Park Agency Act and its rules and regulations, such as the Wild, Scenic and Recreational River Regulations, Freshwater Wetlands Regulations and Shoreline Restrictions. We provide counsel on the APA law and its rules and regulations for developers, land owners, timber management companies and professionals such as surveyors, engineers and other attorneys.

We have submitted Jurisdictional Inquiry Forms (JIF forms), Minor and Major Permit Applications, attended public hearings on behalf of our clients and successfully obtained Non-Jurisdictional Determination letters (NJ letters) and APA permits for complex projects in the Adirondacks. We regularly negotiate terms and conditions provided in proposed APA permits as well as negotiate Settlement Agreements between landowners and the Agency due to APA claimed violations. Our attorneys have also successfully litigated decisions made and actions takenby the APA in Supreme Court utilizing the Article 78 proceeding process.

Serving Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Essex, Hamilton, Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady counties, including all of the North Country in New York and Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Sarasota counties in Florida